Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda has today commissioned the new Cobalt- 60 radiotherapy machine at the Uganda Cancer institute (UCI) in Mulago.
The Shs2 billion machine replaces an old one that was installed over 22 years ago, and crashed in April 2016.
In his remarks, Dr. Rugunda said the commissioning of the Radiotherapy machine is part of the expansion and transformation of dealing with cancer in Uganda.
“Uganda had a problem of therapy services for almost one year, however this is a big achievement for health sector,” Dr. Rugunda said at the commissioning.
He also lauded IAEA for the partnership and called for technological support with the agency.
Dr. Daniel Kanyike, the head of the radiotherapy department at Mulago, said 80 patients are attended to per day. He added that the number is expected to increase after the commissioning.
The new machine, bought from Czech firm UJP Praha, with assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and was installed last year upon completion of a bunker.
